Dental articulator.



B.ELTNER.

DENTAL ARTIGULATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.2B, 1912.

1,033,562. I Patented July 23, 1912.

W ITNESSES monuzv's.

E. ELTNER. DENTAL ARTIOULATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 28, 1912.

Patenttl July 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

median a? a. J2

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST ELTNER, OF BASEL, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO C. A. LORENZ, OF LEIPZIG, GERMANY.

DENTAL ARTICULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 23 1912,

Applicationfiled March 28, 1912. Serial No. 686,800.

' citizen of Basel, Switzerland, residing at Basel,-Switzerland, have invented a new and useful Dental Articulator of which the following is a specification. My invention consists of a dental articulator in which the dual movement in the joiiits of the lower jaw may be reproduced so as to obtain complete articulation of both upper and lower dentures.

It further consists of means for exactly determining the relative positions of the centers of the lower hinge-joint-and of the upper joint upon the skull of the patient .and for determining the amount of movement of the jaw from the most forward position to the closed biting position.

It further'consists of means for applying the measurements thus determined to the articulator, whereby the movements of the jaw of the patient can be accurately reproduced by the articulator.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The invent-ion is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement and organization shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a perspeotiveview of my improved .articulator. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the device for securing the measurementsof the movement of the lower jaw during mastication. Fig. 3 represents a view of such device applied to the jaw of a patient. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the articulator with the measuring device attached to make a cast of the lower jaw. F igl 5 represents a view of the protractor for ascertaining the center of the upper joint. Fig. 6 represents a perspective side view of the articulator with the casts of the jaws in place, illustrating the application of the card to the articulator to determine the'center of the upper joint of the jaws. Fig. 7 represents a view of one of the disks, with the intermediate link removed. Fig. 8 represents a view of said disk and the intermediate link. Fig. 9 represents a sect-ion through the rear end of a limb of the upper jaw-portion, one

of the disks, one of the screw-bolts and the nut securing the same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the upper jaw-portion of the ar ticulator, which is substantially triangular and has a forwardly projecting portion, 2, at the apex of the triangle. The upper jaw-portion has transverse bores, 3, at the rear ends of its limbs, and the smooth por tions of screw-bolts, 4t, fit in said bores and have radially projecting pins, 5, slidable in slots, 5*, in the bores, whereby turning of the bolts in the bores is prevented. Arm members such as disks, 6, are eccentrically secured to turn upon the outer ends of the bolts, and nuts, 7, are fitted upon the threaded inner ends of the bolts to clamp the disks against the upper jaw-portion of the articulator. Holes, 8, or depressions are formed in the disk along a diameter passing through the pivot-point or turning center of the disks, and said holes are spaced at predetermined distances, such as two millimeters apart, and the distance from the turning center is preferably indicated at each hole, as seen in Fig. 7. Intermediate links, 9, have pins, 10, attheir ends, which pins are adapted to engage the holes in the disks, and said links have each a series of holes or depressions, 11, spaced at predetermined distances, such as two millimeters apart, and also preferably indicated by numerals, as seen in Fig. 9, marking the distance of each hole from the pivotpoints of the links, viz., the pins. Stops, 1:2, are secured on the faces of the disks to limit the swing of the links.

The lower jaw-portion, 13, of the articulator has a triangular body-portion, 14, and upwardly projecting and slightly rearwardly inclined limbs, 15, formed with screw-threaded transverse bores in their upper ends, through which pass pointed screws, 16, having locking nuts, 17, upon their outer portions. The pointed inner ends of said screws are adapted to engage in the holes in the intermediate links.

An arched frame, 18, has a downwardly projecting screw, 19, upon the middle of its straight front bar, and said screw has a clamping nut, 20. Blocks, 21, slide with their horizontal bores, 22, upon the straight and parallel limbs 23, of

the frame, and f per ends of the vertical bars and have pencil-points, 28, in their inner ends. An impression-spoon, 29, capable of containing.

wax or other plastic material, and of a shape corresponding to that of the lower jaw, has a perforated shank, 30, which may be secured upon the screw 19 and by the nut 20. The lower jaw-portion of the articulator has a flat tongue, 31 projecting from its apex, and a slide, 32, having an upright flange, 33, slides upon the same. The forwardly projecting portion 2 of the upper jaw-portion of the articulator has a vertical bore in which a rod, 34, slides, being adjust-ably secured by a set-screw, 35. The lower end of said rod has a blade, 36-, formed with a triangular point which may engage the flange of the slide upon the lower. aw-portion.

In practice, the ordinary impression and cast is made of the upper jaw. -An impression in wax or other plastic material'of the lower jaw is thereupon taken in the impression-spoon which thereupon is secured inthe arched frame by means of the screw and nut upon the same. The frame is thereupon manually adjusted with the impres sionrest-ing upon the lower jaw and the ncil points are adjusted by moving the locks and the vertical bars so as to bring them in register with the moving center of the lower mandible joint and so as to nearly touch the cheek of the patient. A card is now inserted between the cheek of the patient and the pencil-points, and a mark is made on the card at'its frb'nt edge, registeringi with some prominent point of the upper jaw of the patient, a tooth, if such is there, or any prominent point which may be identified on the cast of the upper jaw.

The patient thereupon moves the lower jaw from the biting or closed position to the forward position,and the pencil point will mark on the card an arc, corresponding to the are described by the lower hinge-joint of the jaw on the center'of its rest upon the skull. The rearmost end of such are will indicate the extreme of the closed position I of the jaw. The center of such are may now be ascertained by a protractor 37 and marked on the card. The arched frame and the impression spoon with the impression of the aw and whatever teeth may be, are now removed from the mouth ofthe patient and the frame is pivoted upon the outer ends of the pointed screws connecting the upper and lower-jaw portions the pen oil-screws being removed, and said former portion being tilted backward. A cast in plaster is taken in the impression-spoon. A quantity of plaster is now placed upon the lower jaw-portion, and the cast in the impression-spoon is tilted over, together with the arched frame, to adhere to said mass of plaster. The arched frame and impressionfrom the articulator and the upper jawportion is tilted forward with its plaster cast to take the bite whereupon such upper by plaster. The nuts upon the trunnionscrews 4 of the disks are now loosened and one card is placed with the mark on its forward edge pointing to the place on the cast of the upper jaw with which such mark registered .in the jaw of the patient. The cards are folded or cut on a line dra n through the rear extreme of the arcs and the centers of such arcs, as found by the protractor, and the intermediate links are rocked to bear against the rear stops upon the disks. The disks which have been loosened by loosening the nuts upon the trunnion-screws, 4:, are 10w moved until the edge of each interme iate link has its edge at the oblique edge of the 'card,-the pivot pin being at the center of the are and the edge of the link against the rear end of the arc, whereupon the nuts upon the trunnion-screws are tightened to secure the disks in their adjusted positions. The pivot-pins of the intermediate links have been adjusted in holes in the disk, according to the reading upon the protractor of the radius of the arc upon the card. Thus, if for instance, such radius is 20 mm. for the right side and 14 mm. for the left side, the pivotpin is fitted in the hole marked 20 of the right-hand disk and in the hole marked 14: in the left-hand disk. The .points of the pivot-screws upon the lower jaw-portion are adjusted to engage the holes in the intermediate links similarly marked. The adjustable rod in the forward projection of the upper jaw-portion is ad justed to hold said latter portion in biting position when the point of the rod rests upon the flanged slide, the inclined edge of the blades sliding upon the flange giving a relative movement of the jaw-portions of the articulator corresponding to the rearward movement of the human lower jaw when closing tightly into biting position. The plaster cast upon the lower jaw has now the proper position and relative distance from the cast in the upper jaw, whereupon the Work of forming-the dentures may be proceeded with in the articulator with the same accuracy as in the mouth of the patient, the movements of the joints in the articulator exactly reproducing the move- 5 merits. of the awe of the patient.

The lower joints in which the move spoon with its impression are now removed cast is secured in said upper aw portion Having thus described my invention what I claim as new 'and desire to secure by Let-' ters Patent, is

1. In a dentalarticulator, an u per jawportion adapted to receive the p aster cast of the upper jaw, alower aw-portion adapted to receive the plaster cast of the lowerjaw, arm members adjustablypivoted to the sides of one of said jaw-portions, in-

termediate links having radially adjustable support upon said arm-members, and pivotmembers upon the other jaw-portion and having adjustable pivot-support upon said links.

2. In a dental articulator, an upper jaw? portion adapted to receive the laster cast of the upper jaw, a lower aw-portion adapted to receive the plaster-cast of the lower jaw, arm members adjustably pivoted at the sides of the upper jaw portion, intermediate links having radially adjustable support upon the faces of said arm-members, and pivot-members upon the lower jaw-portion and having longitudinally adjustable pivot-connection with said links.

3. In a dental articulator, an upper jawportion adapted to receive the plaster cast of the. upper jaw, a lower jaw-portion adapted to receive the plaster cast of the lower jaw, arm members adjustably pivoted at the sides of one of said jaw-portions and each formed with a diametrical series of holes, intermediate links having each a pin at one end engaging one of the holes in the arm-members, and each formed with a longitudinal series of holes, and pivot-points in the sides of the other jaw-portion and engaging a hole in an intermediate in 4. In a dental articulator, an upper jawportion adapted to support the plaster cast of the upper jaw, a lower aw-portion adapted to support the plaster cast ofthe lower jaw, arm-members adjustably pivoted at the sides of the upper aw-portion'and formed with a diametrical series of holes, intermediate links having each a pin at its end adapted to enga one of the holes in the arm-member an each formed with a longitudinal series of holes, and pivotpoints in the sides of the lower jaw-portion and each engaging one of the holes in an intermediate link. 7

5. In a dental articulator, an upper jawportion adapted to support the plaster cast of the upper jaw and formed with transverse bearings in its rear ends, a lower jaw-portion adapted to support the plaster cast of the lower jaw and formed with screwt-hreaded bores in its rear ends, bolts in the bearings of the upper jaw-portion, clamping nuts upon said bolts, disks .eccentrically' .pivoted upon the ends of said bolts and each formed with a diametrical series of holes passing through the pivot-center and with stops upon its face, intermediate links having pins at their ends adapted to engage the holes in the disks and each formed with a longitudinal series of holes, pointed screws in the bores of the lower jaw-portion and having their points adapted to engage the holes in the links, and locking nuts upon said screws.

6. An arched frame formed with straight parallel limbs, means for securing an impression spoon at the middle of the transverse bar of the frame, blocks slidable upon the limbs of the frame, bars vertically sliding' in said blocks, means for adjusting the blocks upon the limb of the frame and the bars'in said block, and pencil-holders transversely adjustable in the ends of the vertical bars.

7. In a'dental articulator, an upper'jawportion adapted to support the plaster-cast of the upper jaw, a lower aw-portion adapted to support the plaster cast of the lower jaw, arm members adjustably supported at the sides of the upper jaw-portion, intermediate links having radially 'adjustable support upon the faces of said armmembers, pivot-screws transversely threaded in the rear ends of the lower jaw-portion and having their inner ends engaging the links and having laterally projecting outer ends, an arched frame having straight parallel limbs, an impression-spoon secured at the middle of the transverse bar of the frame, blocks slidable upon the limbs of the frame, bars vertically slldable in said blocks and having transverse holes in their upper.

ends engaging the outer ends of the pivotscrews, and means for adjusting the blocks 'upon the limbs of the frame and the bars in the blocks. a

ERNST ELTNER.

Witnesses G110. Grn'onn, AnNoLo ZUBER. 

